Page:The McClure Family.djvu/23

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
INTRODUCTION.
11

tory of recent times. Like those of his name in general, he was long-lived and his death, though he had passed the four score limit, was hastened by an accident. Paternally a McClure, he was obliged on succeeding to some property to assume the second name of Miller. He left a son and namesake who is one of the clerks in H. M. Prisons' Board, Dublin Castle. A long and description memoir appeared in the Dublin papers at the time of his decease.

There are records on a tombstone erected at Findrum, County Donegal by Andrew McClure, Surgeon, Royal Navy, to the memory of his ancestors whose remains lie deposited in the vault beneath, and who for upwards of two hundred years had resided at Findrum. This tomb has inscribed upon it the coat-of-arms, crest, and motto of the McClures.

About 1850 there was published an article on Surnames in Down and Antrim, at which time not a single parliamentary voter named McClure lived in Co. Down and only three in Co. Antrim. There were many of the name living in East Donegal. "James" was a common name among them, but still more common was "Richard." There were

"Fiel Dick, Deel Dick and Dick of Maghesnoppin,
Red Dick, Black Dick and Dick who supped the broughin,"

all alive at the same time and all related.

Rev. W. T. Latimer, Eglish Manse, Dungannon, Ireland, writes June 6, 1913: "My great grandmother, Bell Kelso, died 1781, aged 58. A sister of hers, probably younger, married a Donegal McClure, whose Christian name I don't know. The family all went to America, including a daughter who married a Mr. Elliott. A sister, Susanna McClure, in 1764, married John Dill of Springfield, Co. Donegal, whose son Samuel was minister of Donoghmore, Co. Donegal. Captain McClure, the arctic explorer, belongs to this Donegal family."

In my judgment this Donegal McClure was Samuel who died in Rockbridge county 1779, leaving a wife, Mary, and among other children, Jean Elliott.

Mr. J. W. Kernohan, M. A., Secretary of the Presbyte-